Lugovoy agrees to testify in Litvinenko case, no verdict in London

Тhe Russian deputy believes that the coroner will take a final decision on his testimony in a videoconference before November 1

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MOSCOW, October 16 (Itar-Tass) —— A State Duma deputy from the Russian Liberal Democratic Party Andrei Lugovoy, which the British authorities accused of killing the former Federal Security Service officer Alexander Litvinenko, agreed to give testimony on a video hook-up at the trial over the Litvinenko poisoning case at the London Coroner’s Court. However, the court did not pass a verdict in this criminal case yet, Lugovoy told Itar-Tass, rejecting the Sunday article in the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

Getting in touch with his lawyers in the British capital the Russian lawmaker recalled that the coronary, a forensic expert, held a court session on Thursday, October 13.” “I and my lawyers stated our position that we are ready answer any questions and to participate actively in this trial during the preliminary hearings chaired by the coroner,” he said.

“We were found the party concerned and we said that in case of any questions to me I am ready to answer them on the video hook-up,” Lugovoy pointed out. “It will be made public a little bit later, I think, in a couple of weeks what final verdict they will pass or not pass,” he remarked. “I hope that it will be so,” he added.

“The Mail on Sunday newspaper hurried with its article to this effect,” the Russian deputy stated, doubting that the leakage from the court instances took place in this case. He believes that the coroner will take a final decision on his testimony in a videoconference before November 1.

The Mail on Sunday newspaper published an article earlier on Sunday that the coroner decided to permit Lugovoy to give testimony over the Litvinenko polonium poisoning case in November 2006. Despite the fact that Andrei Lugovoy refused to arrive in Great Britain to face the trial on murder charges he will give testimony on the video hook-up, the newspaper claimed.

Litvinenko died in November 2006 of radioactive polonium poisoning. The British authorities accused Litvinenko’s acquaintance, the former officer of the Russian security service, Andrei Lugovoy, of killing Litvinenko.

Lugovoy pled not guilty in the Litvinenko poisoning case.

The British authorities demanded Russia should extradite Lugovoy for the trial. The Russian authorities denied extradition, because the Russian Constitution bans the extradition of Russian citizens to other countries.